Sunday, 18 June 2006

HOW very sad that your columnist Nathan Bevan, whilst reviewing Channel 4's Big Brother in Wales on Sunday, saw fit to ridicule one of the two Welsh housemates on the programme, Glyn Wise, and also felt obliged to berate his family and home town of Blaenau Ffestiniog.

HOW very sad that your columnist Nathan Bevan, whilst reviewing Channel 4's Big Brother in Wales on Sunday, saw fit to ridicule one of the two Welsh housemates on the programme, Glyn Wise, and also felt obliged to berate his family and home town of Blaenau Ffestiniog.

As somebody who still classes the town as his home, I can only assume that Mr Bevan knows nothing at all about Blaenau Ffestiniog or its population.

It is without doubt one of the most community-spirited towns in the whole of Wales; tightly knit and very proud of its cultural and linguistic tradition.

As for Glyn Wise, he has shown himself to be a normal young teenager who is extremely proud to be Welsh and who makes no effort to excuse the fact that English is his second language.

How encouraging it is to see somebody so proud and ready to proclaim being a Welsh speaker on national TV, someone who is confident in his identity.

I have watched Big Brother since it started six years ago and it makes a refreshing change to see a normal young person who is genuine, friendly and there purely to enjoy the experience of being on the show.

I am sure that his parents and friends are proud of this lad from Blaenau Ffestiniog, and rightly so.

As the national newspaper for Wales, would it not be too much to expect some support for a young man who is so obviously proud to be Welsh?

Ifor Glyn, Swansea

AS SOMEONE who works in the wind energy industry, and who can see a wind turbine from their garden, I am frustrated by the persistent anti-wind power arguments that blatantly ignore the evidence from thousands of wind turbines operating in the UK today.

Wind farms actually have very little impact on their surroundings; and how do I know this?

Because letters pages are only ever filled with comments relating to planned wind farms and not existing ones.

"Despite all the hot air and scepticism from certain quarters ... 81 per cent of people are in favour of wind power."

Not my words, but those of the UK Minister for Energy as he responded to new research on public attitudes to renewable energy.

My hope is that the "silent majority" and the positive experience from operating wind farms will influence decision-makers far more than ill-founded arguments put forward by a small minority.

Matt Partridge, director of Gamesa Energy UK, Newport

AFTER his first 100 days as leader of the Liberal Democrat party, the press is reviewing Sir Menzies Campbell's performance in the hot seat.

For his quiet, considered and consistent opposition to the illegal invasion of Iraq, Ming Campbell won the respect of many, both those involved in politics and amongst the wider public.

Long may British politics have room for people like Menzies Campbell.

But such a reputation is a world away from being a successful leader of a political party.

There is a greater need than ever for a real liberal voice in British politics.

In recent months the Labour government of Tony Blair has cheerfully:

p Welcomed the assassination of a terrorist leader by the United States;

p Presided over the Criminal Records Agency, making the lives of thousands of people a misery after branding them criminals;

p Seen innocent members of the public shot due to bungled anti-terrorist operations carried out in an atmosphere of state-sponsored hysteria;

p Instigated preparations to make every citizen register their details with the state prior to the issue of an identity card.

All of these above examples are matters against which the voice of real liberalism should rage in defence of freedom and tolerance.

These are all issues which the Liberal leader should have joined with a powerful and passionate voice.

Instead his big idea is to knock two pence off income tax, hardly original.

Whenever the Lib Dems have the opportunity to stand up for the cause of liberalism they pass on it, or do so somewhat half-heartedly.

Karl-James Langford, Chairman, Liberal Party in Wales

NO-ONE in their right minds would expect a Welshman or woman to support the England team at rugby, so why on earth should we support them at football?

Hell will freeze over before I support them - it's Portugal all the way for me in the World Cup.